Battery heating circuits and methods using voltage inversion and freewheeling circuit components

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a battery heating circuit, comprising a switch unit  1 , a switching control module  100 , a damping component R 1 , an energy storage circuit, a freewheeling circuit  20 , and an energy superposition unit; the energy storage circuit is configured to connect with the battery to form a loop, and comprises a current storage component L 1  and a charge storage component C 1 ; the damping component R 1 , the switch unit  1 , the current storage component L 1 , and the charge storage component C 1  are connected in series; the switching control module  100  is connected with the switch unit  1 , and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit  1 , so as to control the energy flowing between the battery and the energy storage circuit; the energy superposition unit is connected with the energy storage circuit.

1. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/187,890, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201010245288.0, filed Jul. 30, 2010, Chinese Patent Application No. 201010274785.3, filed Aug. 30, 2010, and Chinese Patent Application No. 201110134005.X, filed May 23, 2011, all these four applications being incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

Additionally, this application is related to International Application Publication No. WO2010/145439A1 and Chinese Application Publication No. CN102055042A, both these two applications being incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to electric and electronic field, in particular related to a battery heating circuit.

Considering cars need to run under complex road conditions and environmental conditions or some electronic devices are used under harsh environmental conditions, the battery, which serves as the power supply unit for electric-motor cars or electronic devices, need to be adaptive to these complex conditions. In addition, besides these conditions, the service life and charge/discharge cycle performance of the battery need to be taken into consideration; especially, when electric-motor cars or electronic devices are used in low temperature environments, the battery needs to have outstanding low-temperature charge/discharge performance and higher input/output power performance.

Usually, under low temperature conditions, the resistance of the battery will increase, and so will the polarization; therefore, the capacity of the battery will be reduced.

To keep the capacity of the battery and improve the charge/discharge performance of the battery under low temperature conditions, some embodiments of the present invention provide a battery heating circuit.

3. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide a battery heating circuit, in order to solve the problem of decreased capacity of the battery caused by increased resistance and polarization of the battery under low temperature conditions.

The battery heating circuit provided in certain embodiments of the present invention comprises a switch unit, a switching control module, a damping component, an energy storage circuit, a freewheeling circuit, and an energy superposition unit; the energy storage circuit is configured to connect with the battery to form a loop, and comprises a current storage component and a charge storage component; the damping component, the switch unit, the current storage component, and the charge storage component are connected in series; the switching control module is connected with the switch unit, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit, so as to control the energy flowing between the battery and the energy storage circuit; the energy superposition unit is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery when the switch unit switches on and then switches off; the freewheeling circuit is configured to form a serial loop with the battery and the current storage component to sustain the current flowing in the battery after the switch unit switches on and then switches off.

The heating circuit provided in certain embodiments of the present invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of the battery; in addition, since the energy storage circuit is connected with the battery in series in the heating circuit, safety problem related with failures and short circuit caused by failures of the switch unit can be avoided when the battery is heated due to the existence of the charge storage component connected in series, and therefore the battery can be protected effectively according to some embodiments.

In addition, owing to the existence of the current storage component in the loop, switching off the switch unit when there is a current flowing in the loop may cause abrupt current drop to zero and therefore induces high voltage on the current storage component in the loop, which may cause damage to other circuit components in the loop (e.g., the switch unit). In the heating circuit provided in certain embodiments of the present invention, since the current flowing in the battery can be sustained by the freewheeling circuit, the current flowing in the current storage component would have no abrupt change when the switch unit switches off, and thus no high voltage would be induced when the switch unit switches off; as a result, damage to the switch unit resulted from high induced voltage on the current storage component in the loop can be prevented, and the heating circuit is safer, and the adverse effect to the entire circuit can be reduced according to some embodiments.

In addition, an energy superposition unit is provided in the heating circuit in certain embodiments of the present invention, and the energy superposition unit can superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery after the switch unit switches on and then switches off; thus, the discharging current in the heating loop would be increased when the switch unit is controlled to switch on at the next time, and therefore the working efficiency of the heating circuit is improved according to some embodiments.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be further described in detail in the following section for embodiments.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, as a part of this description, are provided here to facilitate further understanding of the present invention, and are used in conjunction with the following embodiments to explain the present invention, but shall not be comprehended as constituting any limitation on the present invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the switch unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the freewheeling circuit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the freewheeling circuit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the energy superposition unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the polarity inversion unit as shown in FIG. 9 as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the polarity inversion unit as shown in FIG. 9 as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the polarity inversion unit as shown in FIG. 9 as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the first DC-DC module as shown in FIG. 12 as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuit according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the energy consumption unit as part of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 14 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuit according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a timing diagram of waveforms of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 16 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuit according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a timing diagram of waveforms of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 18 according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a battery heating circuit according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a timing diagram of waveforms of the battery heating circuit as shown in FIG. 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that the embodiments described here are only provided to describe and explain the present invention, but shall not be deemed as constituting any limitation on the present invention.

It is noted that, unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “switching control module” may refer to any controller that can output control commands (e.g., pulse waveforms) under preset conditions or at preset times and thereby control the switch unit connected to it to switch on or switch off accordingly, according to some embodiments. For example, the switching control module can be a PLC. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “switch” may refer to a switch that enables ON/OFF control by using electrical signals or enables ON/OFF control on the basis of the characteristics of the component according to certain embodiments. For example, the switch can be either a one-way switch (e.g., a switch composed of a two-way switch and a diode connected in series, which can be conductive in one direction) or a two-way switch (e.g., a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) or an IGBT with an anti-parallel freewheeling diode). Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “two-way switch” may refer to a switch that can be conductive in two directions, which can enable ON/OFF control by using electrical signals or enable ON/OFF control on the basis of the characteristics of the component according to some embodiments. For example, the two-way switch can be a MOSFET or an IGBT with an anti-parallel freewheeling diode. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “one-way semiconductor component” may refer to a semiconductor component that can be conductive in one direction, such as a diode, according to certain embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “charge storage component” may refer to any device that can enable charge storage, such as a capacitor, according to some embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “current storage component” may refer to any device that can store current, such as an inductor, according to certain embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “forward direction” may refer to the direction in which the energy flows from the battery to the energy storage circuit, and the term “reverse direction” may refer to the direction in which the energy flows from the energy storage circuit to the battery, according to some embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “battery” may comprise primary battery (e.g., dry battery or alkaline battery, etc.) and secondary battery (e.g., lithium-ion battery, nickel-cadmium battery, nickel-hydrogen battery, or lead-acid battery, etc.), according to certain embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “damping component” may refer to any device that inhibits current flow and thereby enables energy consumption, such as a resistor, etc., according to some embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, when mentioned hereafter in this description, the term “main loop” may refer to a loop composed of battery, damping component, switch unit and energy storage circuit connected in series according to certain embodiments.

It should be noted specially that, considering different types of batteries have different characteristics, in some embodiments of the present invention, “battery” may refer to an ideal battery that does not have internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance or has very low internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance, or may refer to a battery pack that has internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance; therefore, those skilled in the art should appreciate that if the battery is an ideal battery that does not have internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance or has very low internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance, the damping component R1 may refer to a damping component external to the battery and the current storage component L1 may refer to a current storage component external to the battery; if the battery is a battery pack that has internal parasitic resistance and parasitic inductance, the damping component R1 may refer to a damping component external to the battery or refer to the parasitic resistance in the battery pack, and the current storage component L1 may refer to a current storage component external to the battery or refer to the parasitic inductance in the battery pack, according to certain embodiments.

To ensure the normal service life of the battery, according to some embodiments, the battery can be heated under low temperature condition, which is to say, when the heating condition is met, the heating circuit is controlled to start heating for the battery; when the heating stop condition is met, the heating circuit is controlled to stop heating, according to certain embodiments.

In the actual application of battery, the battery heating condition and heating stop condition can be set according to the actual ambient conditions, to ensure normal charge/discharge performance of the battery, according to some embodiments.

To heat up the battery E in a low temperature environment, one embodiment of the present invention provides a heating circuit for battery E, as shown in FIG. 1; the heating circuit comprises a switch unit 1, a switching control module 100, a damping component R1, an energy storage circuit, a freewheeling circuit 20, and an energy superposition unit, the energy storage circuit is configured to connect with the battery to form a loop, and comprises a current storage component L1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1, the switch unit 1, the current storage component L1, and the charge storage component C1 are connected in series; the switching control module 100 is connected with the switch unit 1, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit 1, so as to control the energy flowing between the battery and the energy storage circuit; the energy superposition unit is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery when the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off; the freewheeling circuit 20 is configured to form a serial loop with the battery and the current storage component L1 to sustain current flow in the battery after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off.

With the technical scheme of certain embodiments of the present invention, when the heating condition is met, the switching control module 100 controls the switch unit 1 to switch on, and thus the battery E is connected with the energy storage circuit in series to form a loop, and can discharge through the loop (i.e., charge the charge storage component C1); when the current in the loop reaches zero in normal direction after the peak current, the charge storage component C1 begins to discharge through the loop, i.e., charge the battery E; in the charge/discharge process of the battery E, the current in the loop passes through the damping component R1 in both normal direction and reversed direction, and thus the battery E is heated up by the heat generated in the damping component R1; when the condition for heating stop is met, the switching control module 100 can control the switch unit 1 to switch off, so that the heating circuit stops heating.

To achieve to-and-fro energy flow between the battery E and the energy storage circuit, in one embodiment of the present invention, the switch unit 1 is a two-way switch K3, as shown in FIG. 2. The switching control module 100 controls ON/OFF of the two-way switch K3; when the battery E is to be heat up, the two-way switch K3 can be controlled to switch on; if heating is to be paused or is not needed, the two-way switch K3 can be controlled to switch off.

Employing a separate two-way switch K3 to implement the switch unit 1 can simplify the circuit, reduce system footprint, and simplify the implementation; however, to implement cut-off of reverse current, the following embodiment of the switch unit 1 is further provided in the present invention.

Preferably, the switch unit 1 comprises a first one-way branch configured to enable energy flow from the battery E to the energy storage circuit, and a second one-way branch configured to enable energy flow from the energy storage circuit to the battery E; wherein: the switching control module 100 is connected to the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch respectively, and is configured to control ON/OFF the switch unit 1 by controlling ON/OFF of the connected branches.

When the battery is to be heated, both the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch can be controlled to switch on; when heating is to be paused, either or both of the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch can be controlled to switch off; when heating is not needed, both of the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch can be controlled to switch off. Preferably, both of the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch are subject to the control of the switching control module 100; thus, energy flow cut-off in normal direction and reversed direction can be implemented flexibly.

In another embodiment of the switch unit 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the switch unit 1 comprises a two-way switch K4 and a two-way switch K5, wherein: the two-way switch K4 and two-way switch K5 are connected in series opposite to each other, to form the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch; the switching control module 100 is connected with the two-way switch K4 and the two-way switch K5 respectively, to control ON/OFF of the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch by controlling ON/OFF of the two-way switch K4 and two-way switch K5.

When the battery E is to be heated, the two-way switches K4 and K5 can be controlled to switch on; when heating is to be paused, either or both of the two-way switch K4 and the two-way switch K5 can be controlled to switch off; when heating is not needed, both of the two-way switch K4 and the two-way switch K5 can be controlled to switch off. In such an implementation of switch unit 1, the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch can be controlled separately to switch on and off, and therefore energy flow in normal direction and reversed direction in the circuit can be implemented flexibly.

In another embodiment of switch unit 1, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch unit 1 comprises a switch K6, a one-way semiconductor component D11, a switch K7, and a one-way semiconductor component D12, wherein: the switch K6 and the one-way semiconductor component D11 are connected in series with each other to form the first one-way branch; the switch K7 and the one-way semiconductor component D12 are connected in series with each other to form the second one-way branch; the switching control module 100 is connected with the switch K6 and the switch K7, to control ON/OFF of the first one-way branch and the second one-way branch by controlling ON/OFF of the switch K6 and the switch K7. In the switch unit 1 shown in FIG. 4, since switches (i.e., the switch K6 and the switch K7) exist in both one-way branches, energy flow cut-off function in normal direction and reversed direction is implemented.

Preferably, the switch unit 1 can further comprise a resistor, which is connected in series with the first one-way branch and/or second one-way branch and configured to reduce the current in the heating circuit for the battery E and avoid damage to the battery E resulted from over-current in the circuit. For example, a resistor R6 connected in series with the two-way switch K4 and the two-way switch K5 can be added in the switch unit 1 shown in FIG. 3, to obtain another implementation of the switch unit 1, as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the switch unit 1, which is obtained by connecting the resistor R2 and the resistor R3 in series in the two one-way branches in the switch unit 1 shown in FIG. 4, respectively.

As known by those skilled in the art, any circuit device has a voltage rating, which is the standard operating voltage that the circuit device can withstand. If the voltage across a circuit device exceeds the voltage rating of the circuit device, the circuit device will be damaged, and consequently the safety of the entire circuit will be endangered. Preferably, the switching control module 100 is also configured to control the switch unit 1 to switch off after the first positive half cycle of the current flow through the switch unit 1 after the switch unit 1 switches on, and the voltage applied to the switch unit 1 at the time the switch unit 1 switches off is lower than the voltage rating of the switch unit 1. Thus, with the current sustainment effect of the freewheeling circuit 20 and by choosing the switching-off opportunity of the switch unit 1 appropriately, damage to the switch unit 1 resulted from high induced voltage on the current storage component L1 in the loop can be further avoided, and the heating circuit is safer, and the adverse effect to the entire circuit can be reduced. Moreover, by choosing the switching-off opportunity of the switch unit 1 appropriately, the induced voltage on the current storage component L1 can be reduced to some extent, and therefore the requirement for current sustainment capability of the freewheeling circuit 20 can be reduced, so that the freewheeling circuit 20 can be implemented with components that have lower characteristic parameters such as power or capacity, etc.

Wherein: for example, the switching-off opportunity can be the time interval from the time the current flow through the switch unit 1 reaches degree 30 before zero after the peak value in the negative half cycle to the time the current flow reaches degree 30 after zero before the peak value in the next positive half cycle, and the switch unit 1 can be switched off at any time within the said time interval. Of course, the present invention is not limited to that. The specific switching-off opportunity should be determined according to the voltage rating of the switch unit 1; for example, the time interval can be from the time the current flow through the switch unit 1 reaches degree 60 before zero after the peak value in the negative half cycle to the time the current flow reaches degree 60 after zero before the peak value in the next positive half cycle, depending on the voltage rating of the switch unit 1.

In the cyclic charge/discharge process of the battery E, since the energy will not be charged back completely into the battery E when the battery E is charged in reversed direction, the energy discharged from the battery E in the next discharge cycle in positive direction will be reduced, and therefore the heating efficiency of the heating circuit will be degraded. Therefore, preferably, the switching control module 100 is configured to control the switch unit 1 to switch off when the current flow through the switch unit 1 reaches zero after the peak value in the negative half cycle after the switch unit 1 switches on, so as to improve the heating efficiency of the heating circuit, and minimize the induced voltage on the current storage component L1, and thereby minimize the voltage applied to the switch unit 1 when the switch unit 1 switches off, in order to prevent the damage of high induced voltage to the switch unit 1.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the switching control module 100 is configured to control the switch unit 1 to switch off before the current flow through the switch unit 1 reaches zero after the peak value in the negative half cycle after the switch unit 1 switches on. As shown in FIG. 7, the freewheeling circuit 20 can comprises a switch K20 and a one-way semiconductor component D20 connected in series with each other; the switching control module 100 is connected with the switch K20, and is configured to control the switch K20 to switch on after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off, and control the switch K20 to switch off after the current flow to the battery E reaches a preset value of current (e.g., zero). The freewheeling circuit 20 can be connected in parallel between the ends of the battery E; or, one end of the freewheeling circuit 20 can be connected between the switch K7 and the one-way semiconductor component D12 in the second one-way branch of the switch unit 1, and the other end of the freewheeling circuit 20 can be connected to the battery E, as shown in FIG. 4.

The preset value of current is a value that will not make the voltage applied to the switch unit 1 higher than or equal to the voltage rating of the switch unit 1 at the time the switch unit 1 switches off, and can be set according to the voltage rating of the switch unit 1.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the switching control module 100 is configured to control the switch unit 1 to switch off after the current flow through the switch unit 1 reaches zero before the peak value in the positive half cycle of the switch unit 1 after the switch unit 1 switches on. As shown in FIG. 8, the freewheeling circuit 20 can comprise a one-way semiconductor component D21, a damping component R21, and a charge storage component C21, the one-way semiconductor component D21 and the damping component R21 are connected in parallel with each other, and then connected in series with the charge storage component C21; after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off, the current storage component L1 can sustain the current flow via the one-way semiconductor component D21 and the charge storage component C21; the damping component R21 is configured to release the energy stored in the charge storage component C21. The freewheeling circuit 20 can be connected in parallel between the ends of the battery E; or, one end of the freewheeling circuit 20 can be connected between the switch K6 and the one-way semiconductor component D11 in the first one-way branch of the switch unit 1, and the other end of the freewheeling circuit 20 can be connected to the battery E, as shown in FIG. 4.

Due to the fact that the current flow in the loop will be very low (i.e., approximate to zero) if the switch unit 1 is controlled to switch off near the zero point of current flow through the switch unit 1 after the peak value in the negative half cycle, the voltage applied to the switch unit 1 will be lower than the voltage rating of the switch unit 1 at the time the switch unit 1 switches off near the zero point. As a result, the requirement for current sustainment capability of the freewheeling circuit 20 can be minimized, or even the freewheeling circuit 20 can be omitted in the loop. Through a limited number of tests, those skilled in the art can obtain the range of switching-off time interval of switch unit 1, in which the voltage applied to the switch unit 1 is lower than the voltage rating of the switch unit 1 at the time the switch unit 1 switches off.

The energy superposition unit is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery E after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off, so that the discharging current in the heating circuit will be increased when the switch unit 1 is controlled to switch on at the next time, and thereby the working efficiency of the heating circuit is improved.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, the energy superposition unit comprises a polarity inversion unit 102, which is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off; since the voltage of the charge storage component C1 can be superposed in series with the voltage of the battery E after polarity inversion, the discharging current in the heating circuit will be increased when the switch unit 1 switches on at the next time.

In one embodiment of the polarity inversion unit 102, as shown in FIG. 10, the polarity inversion unit 102 comprises a single-pole double-throw switch J1 and a single-pole double-throw switch J2 located on the two ends of the charge storage component C1 respectively; the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 are connected in the energy storage circuit, the first output wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 is connected with the first pole plate of the charge storage component C1, and the second output wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 is connected with the second pole plate of the charge storage component C1; the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 are connected in the energy storage circuit, the first output wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 is connected with the second pole plate of the charge storage component C1, and the second output wire of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 is connected with the first pole plate of the charge storage component C1; the switching control module 100 is also connected with the single-pole double-throw switch J1 and single-pole double-throw switch J2 respectively, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 by altering the connection relationships between the respective input wires and output wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 and the single-pole double-throw switch J2.

According to this embodiment, the connection relationships between the respective input wires and output wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 and single-pole double-throw switch J2 can be set in advance, so that the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 are connected with the first output wire of the switch unit K1 and the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 are connected with the first output wire of the switch unit K1 when the switch unit K1 switches on; the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J1 are switched to connect with the second output wire of the switch unit K1 and the input wires of the single-pole double-throw switch J2 are switched to connect with the second output wire of the switch unit K1 under control of the switching control module 100 when the switch unit K1 switches off, and thereby the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 is inverted.

As another embodiment of the polarity inversion unit 102, as shown in FIG. 11, the polarity inversion unit 102 comprises a one-way semiconductor component D3, a current storage component L2, and a switch K9; the charge storage component C1, current storage component L2, and switch K9 are connected sequentially in series to form a loop; the one-way semiconductor component D3 is connected in series between the charge storage component C1 and the current storage component L2 or between the current storage component L2 and the switch K9; the switching control module 100 is also connected with the switch K9, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 by controlling the switch K9 to switch on.

According to the above embodiment, when the switch unit 1 switches off, the switch K9 can be controlled to switch on by the switching control module 100, and thereby the charge storage component C1, one-way semiconductor component D3, current storage component L2, and switch K9 form a LC oscillation loop, and the charge storage component C1 discharges through the current storage component L2, thus, the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 will be inverted when the current flowing through the current storage component L2 reaches zero after the current in the oscillation circuit flows through the positive half cycle.

As yet another embodiment of the polarity inversion unit 102, as shown in FIG. 12, the polarity inversion unit 102 comprises a first DC-DC module 2 and a charge storage component C2; the first DC-DC module 2 is connected with the charge storage component C1 and the charge storage component C2 respectively; the switching control module 100 is also connected with the first DC-DC module 2, and is configured to transfer the energy in the charge storage component C1 to the charge storage component C2 by controlling the operation of the first DC-DC module 2, and then transfer the energy in the charge storage component C2 back to the charge storage component C1, so as to invert the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1.

The first DC-DC module 2 is a DC-DC (direct current to direct current) conversion circuit for voltage polarity inversion commonly used in the field. Certain embodiments of the present invention do not impose any limitation to the specific circuit structure of the first DC-DC module 2, as long as the module can accomplish voltage polarity inversion of the charge storage component C1. Those skilled in the art can add, substitute, or delete the components in the circuit as needed.

FIG. 13 shows one embodiment of the first DC-DC module 2 provided in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the first DC-DC module 2 comprises: a two-way switch Q1, a two-way switch Q2, a two-way switch Q3, a two-way switch Q4, a first transformer T1, a one-way semiconductor component D4, a one-way semiconductor component D5, a current storage component L3, a two-way switch Q5, a two-way switch Q6, a second transformer T2, a one-way semiconductor component D6, a one-way semiconductor component D7, and a one-way semiconductor component D8.

In the embodiment, the two-way switch Q1, two-way switch Q2, two-way switch Q3, and two-way switch Q4 are MOSFETs, and the two-way switch Q5 and two-way switch Q6 are IGBTs.

The Pin 1, 4, and 5 of the first transformer T1 are dotted terminals, and the pin 2 and 3 of the second transformer T2 are dotted terminals.

Wherein: the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D7 is connected with the end ‘a’ of the charge storage component C1, and the negative electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D7 is connected with the drain electrodes of the two-way switch Q1 and two-way switch Q2, respectively; the source electrode of the two-way switch Q1 is connected with the drain electrode of the two-way switch Q3, and the source electrode of the two-way switch Q2 is connected with the drain electrode of the two-way switch Q4; the source electrodes of the two-way switch Q3 and two-way switch Q4 are connected with the end ‘b’ of the charge storage component C1 respectively. Thus, a full-bridge circuit is formed, here, the voltage polarity of end ‘a’ of the charge storage component C1 is positive, while the voltage polarity of end ‘b’ of the charge storage component C1 is negative.

In the full-bridge circuit, the two-way switch Q1, two-way switch Q2 constitute the upper bridge arm, while the two-way switch Q3 and two-way switch Q4 constitute the lower bridge arm. The full-bridge circuit is connected with the charge storage component C2 via the first transformer T1; the pin 1 of the first transformer T1 is connected with the first node N1, the pin 2 of the first transformer T1 is connected with the second node N2, the pin 3 and pin 5 of the first transformer T1 are connected to the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D4 and the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D5 respectively; the negative electrode of one-way semiconductor component D4 and the negative electrode of one-way semiconductor component D5 are connected with one end of the current storage component L3, and the other end of the current storage component L3 is connected with the end ‘d’ of the charge storage component C2; the pin 4 of the transformer T1 is connected with the end ‘c’ of the charge storage component C2, the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D8 is connected with the end ‘d’ of the charge storage component C2, and the negative electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D8 is connected with the end ‘b’ of the charge storage component C1; here, the voltage polarity of end ‘c’ of the charge storage component C2 is negative, while the voltage polarity of end ‘d’ of the charge storage component C2 is positive.

Wherein: the end ‘c’ of the charge storage component C2 is connected with the emitter electrode of the two-way switch Q5, the collector electrode of the two-way switch Q5 is connected with the pin 2 of the transformer T2, the pin 1 of the transformer T2 is connected with end ‘a’ of the charge storage component C1, the pin 4 of the transformer T2 is connected with end ‘a’ of the charge storage component C1, the pin 3 of the transformer T2 is connected with the positive electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D6, the negative electrode of the one-way semiconductor component D6 is connected with the collector electrode of the two-way switch Q6, and the emitter electrode of the two-way switch Q6 is connected with the end ‘b’ of the charge storage component C2.

Wherein: the two-way switch Q1, two-way switch Q2, two-way switch Q3, two-way switch Q4, two-way switch Q5, and two-way switch Q6 are controlled by the switching control module 100 respectively to switch on and switch off.

Hereafter the working process of the first DC-DC module 2 will be described:

1. After the switch unit 1 switches off, the switching control module 100 controls the two-way switch Q5 and two-way switch Q6 to switch off, and controls the two-way switch Q1 and two-way switch Q4 to switch on at the same time to form phase A; controls the two-way switch Q2 and two-way switch Q3 to switch on at the same time to form phase B. Thus, by controlling the phase A and phase B to switch on alternately, a full-bridge circuit is formed;

2. When the full-bridge circuit operates, the energy in the charge storage component C1 is transferred through the first transformer T1, one-way semiconductor component D4, one-way semiconductor component D5, and current storage component L3 to the charge storage component C2; now, the voltage polarity of end ‘c’ of the charge storage component C2 is negative, while the voltage polarity of end ‘d’ of the charge storage component C2 is positive.

3. The switching control module 100 controls the two-way switch Q5 to switch on, and therefore a path from the charge storage component C1 to the charge storage component C2 is formed via the second transformer T2 and the one-way semiconductor component D8, thus, the energy in the charge storage component C2 is transferred back to the charge storage component C1, wherein: some energy will be stored in the second transformer T2, Now, the switching control module 100 controls the two-way switch Q5 to switch off and controls the two-way switch Q6 to switch on, and therefore the energy stored in the second transformer T2 is transferred to the charge storage component C1 by the second transformer T2 and the one-way semiconductor component D6; now, the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 is inverted such that end ‘a’ is negative and end ‘b’ is positive. Thus, the purpose of inverting the voltage polarity of the charge storage component C1 is attained.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the working efficiency of the heating circuit can be improved by superposing the energy in the charge storage component C1 with the energy in the battery E directly, or superposing the remaining energy in the charge storage component C1 with the energy in the battery E after some energy in the charge storage component C1 is consumed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the heating circuit further comprises an energy consumption unit, which is connected with the charge storage component C1, and is configured to consume the energy in the charge storage component C1 after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off and before the energy in the energy superposition unit is superposed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 15, the energy consumption unit comprises a voltage control unit 101, which is configured to convert the voltage across the charge storage component C1 to a predetermined voltage value after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off and before the energy superposition unit performs energy superposition. The predetermined voltage value can be set as needed.

As shown in FIG. 15, the voltage control unit 101 comprises a damping component R5 and a switch K8, wherein: the damping component R5 and switch K8 are connected in series with each other and then connected in parallel across the charge storage component C1; the switching control module 100 is also connected with the switch K8, and is configured to control the switch K8 to switch on after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off. Thus, the energy in the charge storage component C1 can be consumed via the damping component R5.

The switching control module 100 can be a separate controller, which, by using internal program setting, enables ON/OFF control of different external switches; or, the switching control module 100 can be a plurality of controllers, for example, a switching control module 100 can be set for each external switch correspondingly; or, the plurality of switching control modules 100 can be integrated into an assembly. Certain embodiments of the present invention do not impose any limitation to the forms of implementation of the switching control module 100.

Hereafter the working principle of certain embodiments of the heating circuit for battery E will be described briefly with reference to FIGS. 16-21. It should be noted that though the features and components of certain embodiments of the present invention are described specifically with reference to FIGS. 16-21, each feature or component can be used separately without other features and components, or can be used in combination or not in combination with other features and components. The embodiments of the heating circuit for battery E provided in the present invention are not limited to those as shown in FIGS. 16-21. Additionally, the time intervals between the time periods in the waveform diagrams as shown in the drawings can be adjusted as needed, according to the actual circumstance in some embodiments.

In the heating circuit for battery E as shown in FIG. 16, the switch K6 and the one-way semiconductor component D11 are connected in series to constitute the first one-way branch of the switch unit; the one-way semiconductor component D12 and the switch K7 are connected in series to constitute the second one-way branch of the switch unit 1; the switch unit 1, the damping component R1, the charge storage component C1, and the current storage component L1 are connected in series; the one-way semiconductor component D3, the current storage component L2, and the switch K9 constitute a polarity inversion unit 102; the one-way semiconductor component D20 and the switch K20 constitute a freewheeling circuit 20; the switching control module 100 can control ON/OFF of the switch K6, the switch K7, the switch K9, and the switch K20. For example, FIG. 17 shows a waveform sequence diagram corresponding to the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 16, wherein: V_(C1) refers to the voltage across the charge storage component C1, I_(main) refers to the current flowing through the switch unit 1, I_(L2) refers to the current flowing in the polarity inversion circuit, I_(C1) refers to the current flowing through the charge storage component C1, and I_(D20) refers to the current flowing through the one-way semiconductor component D20. In another example, the working process of the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 16 is as follows:

a) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K6 to switch on, and thus the battery E discharges in the positive direction through the loop composed by the battery E, the switch K6, the one-way semiconductor component D11, and the charge storage component C1 (e.g., in the time period t1 as shown in FIG. 17);

b) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K6 to switch off when the current flow reaches zero after the peak value in the first positive half cycle;

c) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K7 to switch on, and the battery E is charged in the reversed direction through the loop composed by the battery E, the charge storage component C1, the switch K7, and the semiconductor device D12; the switching control module 100 controls the switch K7 to switch off when the current flow reaches degree 24 before zero after the peak value in the first negative half cycle (e.g., in the time period t2 as shown in FIG. 17);

d) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K20 to switch on when it controls the switch K7 to switch off, and thus the current storage component L1 sustains the current flow via the switch K20 and the one-way semiconductor component D20; the switching control module 100 controls the switch K20 to switch off when the current flow to the battery E reaches zero (e.g., in the time period t3 as shown in FIG. 17);

e) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K9 to switch on, and thus the charge storage component C1 discharges through the loop composed by the one-way semiconductor component D3, the current storage component L2, and the switch K9, and thereby achieves the purpose of voltage polarity inversion; then, the switching control module 100 controls the switch K9 to switch off (e.g., in the time period t4 as shown in FIG. 17);

f) Repeat step a) to step e); the battery E is heated up continuously while it discharges and is charged, till the battery E meets the heating stop condition.

In the heating circuit for battery E as shown in FIG. 18, the switch K6 and the one-way semiconductor component D11 are connected in series to constitute the first one-way branch of the switch unit 1; the one-way semiconductor component D12 and the switch K7 are connected in series to constitute the second one-way branch of the switch unit 1; the switch unit 1, the damping component R1, the charge storage component C1, and the current storage component L1 are connected in series; the one-way semiconductor component D3, the current storage component L2, and the switch K9 constitute a polarity inversion unit 102; the one-way semiconductor component D21, the damping component R21, and the charge storage component C21 constitute a freewheeling circuit 20; the switching control module 100 can control ON/OFF of the switch K6, the switch K7, and the switch K9. For example, FIG. 19 shows a waveform sequence diagram corresponding to the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 18, wherein: V_(C1) refers to the voltage across the charge storage component C1, I_(main) refers to the current flowing through the switch unit 1, I_(L2) refers to the current flowing in the polarity inversion circuit, I_(C1) refers to the current flowing through the charge storage component C1, and I_(C21) refers to the current flowing through the charge storage component C21. In another example, the working process of the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 18 is as follows:

a) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K6 and the switch K7 to switch on, and thus the battery E discharges in the normal direction through the loop composed by the battery E, the switch K6, the one-way semiconductor component D11, and the charge storage component C1 (e.g., in the time period t1 as shown in FIG. 19), and is charged in the reversed direction through the loop composed by the battery E, the switch K7, the one-way semiconductor component D12, and the charge storage component C1 (e.g., in the time period t2 as shown in FIG. 19);

b) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K6 and the switch K7 to switch off when the current flow reaches degree 25 after zero before the peak value in the second positive half cycle (e.g., in the time period t3 as shown in FIG. 19); the current storage component L1 sustains the current flow via the one-way semiconductor component D21 and the charge storage component C21 (e.g., in the time period t4 as shown in FIG. 19);

c) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K9 to switch on, and thus the charge storage component C1 discharges through the loop composed by the one-way semiconductor component D3, the current storage component L2, and the switch K9, and achieves the purpose of voltage polarity inversion; then, the switching control module 100 controls the switch K9 to switch off (e.g., in the time period t5 as shown in FIG. 19);

d) Repeat step a) to step c); the battery E is heated up continuously while it discharges and is charged, till the battery E meets the heating stop condition.

It should be noted that there is also a current flow in the freewheeling circuit 20 as shown in FIG. 18 in the time periods t1 and t2. To illustrate clearly the purpose of the freewheeling circuit 20 in the heating circuit provided in certain embodiments of the present invention, only the current flow in the time periods when the effect of the freewheeling circuit 20 is operative is shown in FIG. 19, but the current flow in the freewheeling circuit 20 in the time periods t1 and t2 is omitted, to avoid confusion.

In the heating circuit for battery E as shown in FIG. 20, the two-way switch K3 is used to form the switch unit 1; the energy storage circuit comprises a current storage component L1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1 and the switch unit 1 are connected in series with the energy storage circuit; the one-way semiconductor component D3, the current storage component L2, and the switch K9 constitute a polarity inversion unit 102; the switching control module 100 can control the switch K9 and the two-way switch K3 to switch on and switch off. For example, FIG. 21 is a timing sequence diagram of the waveform corresponding to the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 20, wherein: V_(C1) refers the voltage value across the charge storage component C1, I_(main) refers to the value of current flowing through the two-way switch K3, and I_(L2) refers to the value of current in the polarity inversion circuit. In another example, the working process of the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 20 is as follows:

a) The switching control module 100 controls the two-way switch K3 to switch on, and the energy storage circuit starts operation as indicated by the time period t1 as shown in FIG. 21; the battery E discharges in the normal direction and is charged in the reversed direction through the loop composed by the battery E, the two-way switch K3, and the charge storage component C1 (e.g., in the time period t1 as shown in FIG. 21);

b) The switching control module 100 controls the two-way switch K3 to switch off when the current flowing through the two-way switch K3 reaches zero after the peak value in the negative half cycle (e.g., when the reverse current reaches zero);

c) The switching control module 100 controls the switch K9 to switch on, and thus the polarity inversion unit 102 starts operation; the charge storage component C1 discharges through the loop composed by the one-way semiconductor component D3, the current storage component L2, and the switch K9, and achieves the purpose of voltage polarity inversion; then, the switching control module 100 controls the switch K9 to switch off (e.g., in the time period t2 as shown in FIG. 21);

d) Repeat step a) to step c); the battery E is heated up continuously while it discharges and is charged, till the battery E meets the heating stop condition.

In the heating circuit as shown in FIG. 20, since the two-way switch K3 switches off when the current flowing through the two-way switch K3 reaches zero after the peak value in the negative half cycle (e.g., the reverse current reaches zero), the freewheeling circuit 20 does not play its role of current sustainment in some embodiments. Therefore, the freewheeling circuit 20 is omitted in FIG. 21 according to certain embodiments.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a battery heating circuit, comprising a switch unit 1, a switching control module 100, a damping component R1, an energy storage circuit, a freewheeling circuit 20, and an energy superposition unit; the energy storage circuit is configured to connect with the battery to form a loop, and comprises a current storage component L1 and a charge storage component C1; the damping component R1, the switch unit 1, the current storage component L1, and the charge storage component C1 are connected in series; the switching control module 100 is connected with the switch unit 1, and is configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit 1, so as to control the energy flowing between the battery and the energy storage circuit; the energy superposition unit is connected with the energy storage circuit, and is configured to superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery when the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off; the freewheeling circuit 20 is configured to form a serial loop with the battery and the current storage component L1 to sustain a current flow in the battery after the switch unit 1 switches on and then switches off.

The heating circuit provided in certain embodiments of the present invention can improve the charge/discharge performance of a battery. In addition, since an energy storage circuit is connected with the battery in series in the heating circuit, the safety problem related with short circuit caused by failures of the switch unit can be avoided when the battery is heated due to the existence of the charge storage component connected in series, and therefore the battery can be protected effectively.

In addition, in the heating circuit provided in certain embodiments of the present invention, since the current flow in the battery can be sustained by the freewheeling circuit, the current flow in the current storage component will have no abrupt change when the switch unit switches off, and thus no high voltage will be induced when the switch unit switches off; as a result, damage to the switch unit resulted from high induced voltage on the current storage component in the loop can be prevented, and the heating circuit is safer, and the adverse effect to the entire circuit can be reduced.

In addition, an energy superposition unit is provided in the heating circuit in certain embodiments of the present invention, and the energy superposition unit can superpose the energy in the energy storage circuit with the energy in the battery after the switch unit switches off; thus, the discharging current in the heating circuit will be increased when the switch unit is controlled to switch on at the next time, and therefore the working efficiency of the heating circuit is improved.

For example, some or all components of various embodiments of the present invention each are, individually and/or in combination with at least another component, implemented using one or more software components, one or more hardware components, and/or one or more combinations of software and hardware components. In another example, some or all components of various embodiments of the present invention each are, individually and/or in combination with at least another component, implemented in one or more circuits, such as one or more analog circuits and/or one or more digital circuits.

While some embodiments of the present invention are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the details of those embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make modifications and variations, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. However, all these modifications and variations shall be deemed as falling into the scope of the present invention.

In addition, it should be noted that the specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any appropriate way, provided that there is no conflict. To avoid unnecessary repetition, certain possible combinations are not described specifically. Moreover, the different embodiments of the present invention can be combined as needed, as long as the combinations do not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. However, such combinations shall also be deemed as falling into the scope of the present invention.

Hence, although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that there are other embodiments that are equivalent to the described embodiments. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrated embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A circuit for heating a battery, the circuit comprising: the battery including a first damping component and a first current storage component, the first damping component and the first current storage component being parasitic to the battery, the battery including a positive battery terminal and a negative battery terminal; a switch unit; a switching control component coupled to the switch unit; a first charge storage component; and an energy superposition unit connected across the first charge storage component; a freewheeling circuit connected between the positive battery terminal and the negative battery terminal; wherein: the first damping component, the first current storage component, the switch unit, and the first charge storage component are connected to form at least a part of a loop; the switching control component is configured to turn on the switch unit so as to allow a first current flowing from the battery to the first charge storage component and a second current flowing from the first charge storage component to the battery, and to turn off the switch unit; the energy superposition unit is configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the negative voltage terminal of the battery; and the freewheeling circuit configured to allow a freewheeling current to flow to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off; wherein the circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging the battery.
 2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein: the first damping component is a parasitic resistor of the battery; and the first current storage component is a parasitic inductor of the battery.
 3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the first charge storage component is a capacitor.
 4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the energy superposition unit includes a polarity inversion unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, invert a voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component.
 5. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes: a first single-pole double-throw switch coupled to a first storage terminal of the first charge storage component; and a second single-pole double-throw switch coupled to a second storage terminal of the second charge storage component; wherein: the first single-pole double-throw switch includes a first input wire, a first output wire, and a second output wire; the first input wire is coupled, directly or indirectly, to one of the positive or negative battery terminals; and the first output wire and the second output wire are coupled to the first storage terminal and the second storage terminal respectively; wherein: the second single-pole double-throw switch includes a second input wire, a third output wire, and a fourth output wire; the second input wire is coupled, directly, or indirectly, to the other of the positive and negative battery terminals; and the third output wire and the fourth output wire are coupled to the second storage terminal and the first storage terminal respectively; wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first single-pole double-throw switch and the second single-pole double-throw switch, and is configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by altering connection relationships among the first input wire, the first output wire, the second output wire, the second input wire, the third output wire, and the fourth output wire.
 6. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes: a second current storage component; a first switch; and a first one-way semiconductor component connected between the first charge storage component and the second current storage component or between the second current storage component and the first switch; wherein: the first charge storage component, the first one-way semiconductor component, the second current storage component, and the first switch are at least parts of a polarity inversion loop; and the switching control component is coupled to the first switch and is configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by turning on the first switch.
 7. The circuit of claim 4 wherein the polarity inversion unit includes: a second charge storage component; and a first DC-DC module coupled to the second charge storage component and the first charge storage component; wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first DC-DC module and configured to invert the voltage polarity associated with the first charge storage component by transferring energy from the first charge storage component to the second charge storage component and then transferring the energy from the second charge storage component back to the first charge storage component.
 8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switch unit includes a two-way switch.
 9. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switch unit includes a first branch circuit for conduction in a first direction and a second branch circuit for conduction in a second direction, the first direction being from the positive voltage terminal of the battery to the first charge storage component, the second direction being from the first charge storage component to the battery.
 10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the switch unit further includes a resistor connected in series with at least the first branch circuit or the second branch circuit.
 11. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and configured to turn on and off the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit respectively.
 12. A circuit for heating a battery, the circuit comprising: the battery including a first damping component and a first current storage component, the first damping component and the first current storage component being parasitic to the battery, the battery including a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal; a switch unit; a switching control component coupled to the switch unit; a first charge storage component, the first charge storage component and the first current storage component being at least parts of an energy storage circuit; and an energy superposition unit coupled to the first charge storage component; a freewheeling circuit connected between the first battery terminal and the second battery terminal; wherein: the first damping component, the first current storage component, the switch unit, and the first charge storage component are connected in series; the switching control component is configured to turn on and off the switch unit so as to control a first current flowing between the battery and the first charge storage component; the energy superposition unit is configured to, after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off, adjust a storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component so that a positive voltage terminal of the first charge storage component is coupled, directly or indirectly, to a negative voltage terminal of the battery; and the freewheeling circuit configured to allow a freewheeling current to flow to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off; wherein the circuit for heating the battery is configured to heat the battery by at least discharging the battery; wherein the switch unit includes a first branch circuit for conduction in a first direction and a second branch circuit for conduction in a second direction, the first direction being from the positive voltage terminal of the battery to the first charge storage component, the second direction being from the first charge storage component to the battery; wherein the switching control component is coupled to the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit and configured to turn on and off the first branch circuit and the second branch circuit respectively; wherein: the first branch circuit includes a first switch and a first one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the first switch, the first switch being coupled to the switching control component; and the second branch circuit includes a second switch and a second one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the second switch, the second switch being coupled to the switching control component; wherein the switching control component is configured to: turn on and off the first branch circuit by turning on and off the first switch respectively; and turn on and off the second branch circuit by turning on and off the second switch respectively.
 13. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switch unit includes: a first two-way switch coupled to the switch control unit; and a second two-way switch coupled to the switch control unit and connected in series with the first two-way switch; wherein the switch control unit is further configured to turn on and off the first two-way switch and to turn on and off the second two-way switch.
 14. The circuit of claim 1, and further comprising an energy consumption unit coupled to the first charge storage component and configured to consume energy stored in the first charge storage component after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.
 15. The circuit of claim 14 wherein the energy consumption unit includes a voltage control unit configured to regulate the storage voltage associated with the first charge storage component to a predetermined voltage after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off but before the storage voltage is adjusted by the energy superposition unit.
 16. The circuit of claim 15 wherein the voltage control unit includes: a second damping component; and a first switch connected in series with the second damping component; wherein the first charge storage component is connected in parallel with a combination of the second damping component and the first switch.
 17. The circuit of claim 16 wherein the switching control component is further configured to turn on the first switch after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off.
 18. The circuit of claim 1 wherein: the freewheeling circuit includes a first switch and a first one-way semiconductor component connected in series with the first switch, the first switch being coupled to the switching control component; and the switching control component is configured to: turn on the first switch to allow the freewheeling current to flow to the battery after the switch unit is turned on and then turned off; and turn off the first switch if the freewheeling current flowing to the battery reaches a predetermined magnitude.
 19. The circuit of claim 1 wherein: the freewheeling circuit includes a second charge storage component, a first one-way semiconductor component, and a second damping component in parallel with the first one-way semiconductor component, the second charge storage component is in series with a combination of the first one-way semiconductor component and the second damping component.
 20. The circuit of claim 1 is further configured to: start heating the battery if at least one heating start condition is satisfied; and stop heating the battery if at least one heating stop condition is satisfied. 